MCPS teachers - what would you tell parents in your class(es) if you could?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

And this right here is a huge part of the problem. Parents are actively teaching their kids that the rules don't apply to them and how to skirt the rules. This right here is why I want to quit.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand what “need” a parent has to be texting their high-schooler during math class. Get a life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

And this right here is a huge part of the problem. Parents are actively teaching their kids that the rules don't apply to them and how to skirt the rules. This right here is why I want to quit.

We have had serious safety issues that included an er visit. If I felt teachers would do best and keep my kids safe and communicate and not lie I would not need to send a phone. Nothing like picking up your child from school and seeing them have an allergic reaction because a teacher gave them a treat they could not eat.

Mcps as a whole needs to focus on safety for students and staff.

And hold staff accountable for mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand what “need” a parent has to be texting their high-schooler during math class. Get a life.

To help them as most teachers don’t teach and expect peer help or google.

[Anonymous]

At my MCPS HS school security will confiscate phones if a kid has refused to put it away after being asked by a teacher.

If the kid refuses they are sent to the office to be picked up by the parent. This breaks down when enabling parents happily go pick up their kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

Yep we are in a private K-8 that bans phones completely and if you are caught with a phone, you are automatically suspended.

This is the mcps board so posting about a private is not relevant. Go to the private board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I care about your kid. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. But we need to work as a team.

They need to show up. They need to put in the effort. I understand it's hard. I understand they aren't interested in the work. I understand that they may need to have a job, care for a sick relative, distracted by peer pressure etc etc etc etc etc. I am here to help them.

Teach them to accept help, teach them to ask for help. Teach them that in order to be successful they need to start with basic needs like food and sleep. Teach them that it's important to show up and be present. Teach them to put their phone away.

I know how to teach. I know how to form relationships. But if they don't put in the effort we're not going to make it.

You sound like a good teacher but please understand that sometimes there are reasons why kids don't ask for help. Mine will not ask for help. They had a few nasty teachers who would not help when asked or if they asked they got yelled at so even though we try to teach them every teacher is different and some are very good and want to help, they are too scared to ask for help. Maybe if you see a child struggling you can offer and just help vs. giving them the option. Once mine sees you are serious, they might be more willing to ask.

I get this. But I teach advanced HS math and when 10 out of 30 kids constantly have their hand up for extra help I run out of time to help the quiet kids who don’t proactively ask for help. I try to get to them but too many students with one teacher is an impossible environment at times

Do you give homework? My biggest (only) complaint about my child’s advanced middle school math class was the complete lack of homework. It seemed that it was viewed by the teacher and some parents as a virtue, but I think many kids, and definitely my kid, needs the practice and repetition in math that you get with homework. It was also hard to support my kid with math concepts at home because it was hard to tell what was being covered in class.

2nd this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

And this right here is a huge part of the problem. Parents are actively teaching their kids that the rules don't apply to them and how to skirt the rules. This right here is why I want to quit.

We have had serious safety issues that included an er visit. If I felt teachers would do best and keep my kids safe and communicate and not lie I would not need to send a phone. Nothing like picking up your child from school and seeing them have an allergic reaction because a teacher gave them a treat they could not eat.

Mcps as a whole needs to focus on safety for students and staff.

And hold staff accountable for mistakes.

Then teach your kid that the phone is for emergencies only. True emergencies. Medical emergency, school shooter. And it stays in the bag. And if the teacher sees it the kid is in the wrong because it should stay buried in the bag unless the world is ending. It won't get confiscated if it is in the bag at all times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand what “need” a parent has to be texting their high-schooler during math class. Get a life.

To help them as most teachers don’t teach and expect peer help or google.

Are you serious? Why don’t you homeschool your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

And this right here is a huge part of the problem. Parents are actively teaching their kids that the rules don't apply to them and how to skirt the rules. This right here is why I want to quit.

We have had serious safety issues that included an er visit. If I felt teachers would do best and keep my kids safe and communicate and not lie I would not need to send a phone. Nothing like picking up your child from school and seeing them have an allergic reaction because a teacher gave them a treat they could not eat.

Mcps as a whole needs to focus on safety for students and staff.

And hold staff accountable for mistakes.

Then teach your kid that the phone is for emergencies only. True emergencies. Medical emergency, school shooter. And it stays in the bag. And if the teacher sees it the kid is in the wrong because it should stay buried in the bag unless the world is ending. It won't get confiscated if it is in the bag at all times.

Why do you assume we don’t? Phones are not the issue. You need to learn better classroom management. Our kids devices are heavily locked down and monitored. We also monitor their mcps accounts heavily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

If you really wanted parents to know, why not tell them instead of lying to them to get them to “go away”? I don’t get it. That’s something that is absolutely in your power to do, and doesn’t even take a lot of effort.

Seriously? You think admin would be a ok with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

And this right here is a huge part of the problem. Parents are actively teaching their kids that the rules don't apply to them and how to skirt the rules. This right here is why I want to quit.

We have had serious safety issues that included an er visit. If I felt teachers would do best and keep my kids safe and communicate and not lie I would not need to send a phone. Nothing like picking up your child from school and seeing them have an allergic reaction because a teacher gave them a treat they could not eat.

Mcps as a whole needs to focus on safety for students and staff.

And hold staff accountable for mistakes.

Then teach your kid that the phone is for emergencies only. True emergencies. Medical emergency, school shooter. And it stays in the bag. And if the teacher sees it the kid is in the wrong because it should stay buried in the bag unless the world is ending. It won't get confiscated if it is in the bag at all times.

Why do you assume we don’t? Phones are not the issue. You need to learn better classroom management. Our kids devices are heavily locked down and monitored. We also monitor their mcps accounts heavily.

Ok so if your kid isn’t using their phone during class then there isn’t a problem. It won’t get confiscated. But if you’re the same poster who said above that you text with them during math class because you’re a better teacher than their teacher, then you’re contradicting yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand what “need” a parent has to be texting their high-schooler during math class. Get a life.

To help them as most teachers don’t teach and expect peer help or google.

Are you serious? Why don’t you homeschool your kids?

We basically have or used the tutors for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends - if they have an iep? I’d tell them that most of the services are delivered by the general Ed teacher because inclusion spec Ed teachers are stretched too thin and we spend so much time on paperwork and not with kids. I’d also tell them no matter what they “advocate for” in the iep, it doesn’t actually happen during the school day due to limited resources and time so half the time we just agree to make you go away

We know. Thanks for being a failure in your life's work.

Likewise for being a failure at actual life. (Lack of empathy is the first sign of being a psychopath)

"I decided to use an anonymous forum to taunt distraught parents of special needs kids in a blasé manner about how we fail their children. But you're the psychopath! Poor me!"
PP

The thread is what we would tell parents if we could. I appreciated that teachers transparency and didn't read it as a taunt. You're clearly dissatisfied with your child's service, but you're lashing out to someone who is telling you there is literally nothing they can do to solve your problem.

I’m the one who posted about spec Ed. Not a taunt just the hard truth. And I’m not a failure at my job, I’m actually a really good spec Ed teacher and I advocate hard for the kids on my caseload. But these are the truths of the conditions in mcps and that’s what the thread asked about. Sometimes I wish parents knew so they didn’t believe the BS . That being said, parents should not be angry at the teachers - it’s the system and lack of appropriate resources

As a staff member in central office, I wish supervisors would be held accountable. All of the supervisors that I have had have been mediocre and in turn, don't hold their staff accountable. Less central office staff and more SPED staff that work directly with kids. That would help a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents of middle and HS students - your kids are on their cell phones way more than you think during school despite what they tell you.
Please advocate for tougher cell phone rules in schools. Private schools are doing a much better job of enforcing cell phone rules and their kids are getting a better education because of it. Also, for high school, I don’t mind the early start but period 1 is a waste because kids are either half asleep or arrive late. If I was a high school parent I would advocate for a later high school start time. Many states have adapted to a later start time. I feel so bad for high school kids who look so tired in school but not much I can do about it.

THIS THIS THIS! I can't think of any two changes that would have a bigger impact on my students' success than this.

Honestly, the biggest advantage kids may be getting from a private school education is the ability of privates to restrict phones in the classroom.

-- public high school teacher whose child just graduated from a Catholic school.

If it were not phones it would be something else. Stop blaming phones and learn classroom management. When we grew up teachers were clear of expectations, no non sense and not trying to be our friends.

Tell me what you would like me to do. How should I enforce a no cell phone policy in the classroom? I am constantly telling kids to put away their phone but at my school we are not allowed to take the phone away or deduct any points. We cannot call security or send the kid to the office. We cannot do lunch detention. I don’t think parents want to face the reality of phones in schools. If you cannot control it at home, trust me it is not better at school. And I wish I could invite you to my classroom to see for yourself what first period in high school is like.

DP - does the principal prohibit you from taking away the phone, or is it central office? That policy needs to change. In my view, if a kid has it out and they're not allowed, that phone goes away and they can get it at the end of the day.

DP here. We used to collect phones, but no longer. Quite honestly, I don’t want to. If that phone gets taken out of my desk, I will be held liable and I’ll have to pay the family back. I’ve found students rummaging through my desk on occasion, so this idea isn’t too hard for me to imagine. (I even have clear policies about not going behind my desk and I’m known as a firm teacher. That doesn’t matter anymore since there are students who don’t respect rules or boundaries.)

I would give my kid a fake phone. No way I’d allow them to hand it over. My kids have phones for my needs, not theirs.

And this right here is a huge part of the problem. Parents are actively teaching their kids that the rules don't apply to them and how to skirt the rules. This right here is why I want to quit.

We have had serious safety issues that included an er visit. If I felt teachers would do best and keep my kids safe and communicate and not lie I would not need to send a phone. Nothing like picking up your child from school and seeing them have an allergic reaction because a teacher gave them a treat they could not eat.

Mcps as a whole needs to focus on safety for students and staff.

And hold staff accountable for mistakes.

Then teach your kid that the phone is for emergencies only. True emergencies. Medical emergency, school shooter. And it stays in the bag. And if the teacher sees it the kid is in the wrong because it should stay buried in the bag unless the world is ending. It won't get confiscated if it is in the bag at all times.

Why do you assume we don’t? Phones are not the issue. You need to learn better classroom management. Our kids devices are heavily locked down and monitored. We also monitor their mcps accounts heavily.

Ok so if your kid isn’t using their phone during class then there isn’t a problem. It won’t get confiscated. But if you’re the same poster who said above that you text with them during math class because you’re a better teacher than their teacher, then you’re contradicting yourself.

My kids phones are locked down but if they asked for help as the teacher was not responsive of course I’d help.